Lock



Oct. 14, '1930. H, N EDY 1,778,294

LOCK

Original Filed Jan. 22, 1926 Jaye/Z5021 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 PATENT OFFICE I HOMER G. KENNEDY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI LOCK , Application filed January 22, 1926, Serial No. 83,093. Renewed July 9, 1930.

This invention relates in general to improvements in looks, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use for I lockingthe transmission of a motor vehicle, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved locking means for looking any of the parts of a motor vehicle to prevent unauthorized use of the vehicle or the removal of any of the parts that are to be locked thereby.

A furtherobject is to provide an improved lock which will be associated with a control device (such as aswitch) that controls some of the" operating parts of a machine or apparatus in connection with which the lock is associated, whereby when the control device is" actuated to stop the operation of the part controlled thereby, the lock will automatically become active and certain of the parts I 2 of the machine or apparatus will be locked against operation or movement with respect to themachine or apparatus or by securing certain parts against removal, the lock'being rendered inactive through the medium of other instrumentalities, such as a key or the like. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended. 7 Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like'characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the-several views:

1 Fig. 1, is a top plan view of my invention diagrammatically showing the same applied to a transmission case.

Fig.2, is a top plan'view in section of a device constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 3, is a view partly in section and showing a front elevation of the locking means. a

- Fig. his a view partly in section of a side elevation of the locking means.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 1 represents aportion of one of the 5 end walls'ofa transmission gear case. The

numeral '2 represents the cover for the case 1 and numeral 3 designates a pair of longitudinally movable shifting rods which pass through openings 4 in the end walls 1 of the transmission case, While numeral 5 represents the usual type of gear shifting lever through the movements of which the gear shifting rods 3 are longitudinally movable, as is manifest.

.In carrying out the aim of my present invention, I employ a suitable housing, or case 6 which preferably forms a part of the cover 2. Within the case 6 is mounted the locking mechanism constituting my invention here shown as adapted for locking transmission shifting rods against movement through the medium of the gear shifting lever 5.

The mechanism embodying the features of my particular invention involves a plunger preferably consisting of two arms 7 which arms are suitably spaced apart preferably in parallel relation and are connected at their upper ends by means of a suitable crosshead 8. A suitable bearing member is providedand each rod 7 passes through an opening 10 therein and also through openings 11 in the transmission case cover 2 and are guided thereby. A suitable coiled spring 12 preferably encircles each plunger rod 7 and the springs are disposed between the head of the plunger and the bearing member 9, for normally holding the plunger rods 7 in their retracted position and out of lockingengagement with lock grooves 13 in the gear shifting rods 3, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The cross-head 8 is provided with a body portion 1a and carries a pin or lug 15 and the bearing member 9 is provided with a pin 16 upon which is pivotally mounted a catch member 17 having a lip 18 for engagement with the pin or lug 15 on the cross-head body portion 14, when the arms of the plunger are in their projected or looking position, that is, when in engagement with the lock grooves 13 of the shifting rods 3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.3. This will lock the rods 3 against longitudinal movement. suitable spring 19 bears against the catch member 17 for holding the lip 18 thereof in locked engagement with the lug 15. An arm 20 extends from the catch member 17 and isdisposed adjacent a key hol'e21 in the case 6 so that the lip 18 of the catch member 17 may be released from engagement with the lug whenever it is desired, by placing a key in the key hole 21 and causing it to engage and move thearm 20. This will causethe catch memberto pivotally move upon the pin 16 and permit the coiled springs 12 to retract the plunger to its unlocked position, which'thereby releases the shifting rods 3; and permits :7

longitudinal shifting movements thereof through the shifting movements of the gear shifting lever 5.

v The means for proj ectin'gtheplunger preferably consists of a suitably supportedrocker shaft22. Arms .23 are fixed to the rocker shaft an dlhave {engagement at their opposite ends with pins 2e fixed to the endsof the cross-head 8 which pins pass through slot-' ted'openings 25 in the arms 23, as shown in Fig. 4. A suitable; arm26 is also fixed tothe rocker shaft 22'andis provided its outer endvwith a slot 27 for receiving a pin QS carried by an armature 29, the inner end of which armature is receivable ina suit'able solenoid coil30 which armature whenenergizedattracts and draws or pulls the armature shaft further intothe solenoid coil, thereby impartingarocking'fmovement to the 26 and 23 to pro jectthe plungerrods until the catchmember 17 engages the lug 15'0nthe cross-head 8 for locking thejplunger rods in their 7 projected or active position to prevent shiftingof the rod?) withinjthe gear t ransnissionflcasel. I I L I The el tfical current is preferably provided from a battery31,for venergizing the solenoid coil and is controlled preferably b y means of a suitable two way switch 32, the latter being connected to a conductor-33 leading from the battery 31 tothe coil 30. .A sec;

9nd conductor 34 leads. from the opposite side of thelbatteryv3l to a terminal 35 which is 'carriedgby the plunger rod 7 andis adapted to contact with aterminal 36 when the plunger is in its retracted position and from which terminal 36 a a conductor '37 leads to a the sole- ,noid coil:-30 the otherjendiof'thecoil being connected'with thelconduc tor 83 for completing an 1 electric. circuit. The conductor 33 is connected to theterminal 38;and'when the switch member ismoved into contact with the terminal 38 and the plungerjis retracted, at which time the terminals 35 and s6 fwillbe in contact, the con sowni" be in.- j;

stantlyrenergizedand the plunger will be projected. Justbefore the plunger'reaches itsprojected or'lockingposition, the'terminal 35 ,disengages the terminalr36 and breaks the circuit through the solenoid 30 after which .the vcatch member 17 will engage the lug for holding the plunger in its locked position. Whenever the switch member: 40 is m r i c mie m lami e 3e eerie iiii h' se di trical source is directed to an electrical system such as the ignition system diagrammatically illustrated at 39 so that the motor may be run even though theshifting rods 3 are locked against movement. The plunger rods 7 can be retracted only after the catch member 17 is unlocked or shifted. V The plunger rods 7 will then be moved out of locking engagement with the shifting rods 3. Whenever the plunger is retracted the terminals 35 and ;'36 owillbe'again brought into contact for closing the circuit through the solenoid 30 should the switch 40 be again moved from the ignition terminal 39 to contact with terminal 38.

"Since" thej'en'gag'ement of "the moving terminal 35 with the fixed terminal gtiwill obtain forpracticallyf the. full distance ofi'travel of the plunger rods, the circuit of the solenoid; my

will be active during this time andthesolenoid circuit being broken only after the con tact 35 leaves the contact 36 ,Iwhich is just prior to the engagementfof the catch member 17 with the lug l5. ffrt the time of disengage}- ment of, the contacts 35 and36, the plunger rods; while freed from the direct pulling force of the solenoid, have reachedi suchia point that the momentum carries them and their attendant parts the furtherminute distance necessary, to permit engagement of thecatchfiherm ber 17 with ther lug 5. Various. systems of electrical control a're adaptable tothi's lock' ig device and the system illustrated'was gels" "d merely"toshowoneof such systems.

From the foregoing description, it is evid'ent that there is provided'a,locking' device that is simple, jd urable, positive} easily, and

readily locked andunlocked and 'whichfyvill ave highly eiiieient' for tliejipurpos'el 111-;

right to make any, such 'chang'esjior modificae s senses may rain rall Within hesoi e6f the appended shims W fi rly b lS ruedi; What Tol i e V v, a r 1 In a gear transmission lock-1 structure, gear casing, shiftablerods mounted ins aid casing, means for. locking said" sliiftableirods against movement carried by said casing'and comprising acasingia vertically disposed-reciprocable plunger mountediwithi'nsa-id last mentioned casing, electrically controlled means for moving said plunger V engage retlocking said plunger in engagement with said shiftable rods to prevent unauthorized longitudinal movement of said shiftable rods, means engageable with a key for unlocking the plunger and resilient means for automatically raising the plunger out of engagement with the shiftable rods to permit movement of the shiftable rods by actuating a gear transmission shifting lever.

22. In a gear transmission lock structure, a gear casing, shiftable rods mounted in said casing, means for locking said shiftable rods against movement carriedby said casing and comprising a casing, a vertically disposed reciprocable plunger mounted within said last'mentioned casing, electrically actuated means for moving said plunger in a downward path, a spring controlled catch automatically operating to lock the plunger in its lowermost position in engagement with said shiftable rods and means for releasing the said catch to release the plunger from locked engagement with the shiftable rods.

3. In a gear shift locking mechanism, the

1, combination with a casing and a plurality of shiftable rods, of a plunger engageable with the shiftable rods when in its lowermost position, electrically controlled means for moving said plunger from a normal neutral position to said lowermost position, a spring controlled catch automatically. operating to-lock the plunger in its lowermost position, means for unlocking said plunger and resilient means for raising the plunger to neutral position after having been unlocked.

4. In a gear transmission lock structure, a gear casing, shiftable rods mounted in said casing, means for locking said shiftable rods against movement carried by said casing and comprising a casing, a vertically disposed reciprocable plunger mounted within said last mentioned casing, a rocker arm connected with said plunger, a solenoid coil, an armature shaft for said solenoid coil, a connection between said rocker arm and said armature for imparting downward movement to the plunger for engagement thereof with the shiftable rods when the solenoid coil is electrically energized, means for controlling the energizing of said coil, locking means for retaining the plunger in engagement with the shiftable rods, means engageable with a key for unlocking said plunger and resilient means for raising said plunger out of engagement with said shiftable rod to permit longi tudinal shifting movements thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

HOMER G. KENNEDY. 

